Flooring or ceiling jack



(No Model.) v W. M. HOLIMAN.

FLOORING OR CEILING JACK.

Patented Aug. 22

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM MOSES HOLIMAN, OF KNIOKERBOCKER, TEXAS.

FLOORING OR CEILING JACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 503,764, dated August 22, 1893.

Application filed December 2, 1892. Serial No. 453,853. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM MOSES HOLI- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Knickerbocker, in the county of Tom Green and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flooring or Ceiling Jacks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in flooring or ceiling jacks, and its object is to provide a device, whereby the laying of the flooring, and the fitting of siding and ceiling strips are greatly facilitated, and enables one carpenter to do the work that ordinarily requires two.

It consists in certain features of novelty and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and then particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings:-Figure l is a perspective View, showing the jack in use. Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof. Fig. 3 is a section on line x-ac, Fig. 2. Fig. dis a perspective view of the clamping jaw.

The jack consists of the tongs, as shown, comprising two pivoted levers a, I), provided with gripping-jaws a, b, a combined spring and catch 0, for holding the tongs to their adjustment, and a clamping-jaw d. The clamping jaw 01 is provided with openings 6, which receive the lower ends of the levers but are disconnected from and are loose on said levers. Pins or steps f project from the levers, under the clamping-jaw, and keep it away from interference with the grippingjaws a, b. The inner face of the clamping jaw is provided with a longitudinal groove 9 to receive the tongue of a strip of flooring, or siding and ceiling strips.

Spring catch 0 comprises an arm h secured at one end to lever b, and projecting across and beyond the lever at, having at its outer end a return portion *6, which extends across both levers but is not directly secured to them. The arm 72, and its return portion 1. form together a V, which extends through the keeper or eyej. This keeper catches in the recesses 7c of arm h, the effectual engagement being caused by compressing the arm and its return portion and passing them through the keeper or eye so that the arm will spring. Pivoted to the arm his a brace-rod Z.

In operation the gripping-jaws a, b, of the tongs are caused to engage the sides of the joists or rafters, as shown in Fig. 1, and the tongue of the strip being laid is received by the groove 9 of the clamping-jaw d. The gripping-jaws are now pinched tightly upon the joists or rafters, and the levers held to adjusted position by means of the catch described. The tongs are now swung forward by one hand of the operator, thus bringing the strip or board to position to be fastened with the assistance of the other hand. The tongs are held forced forward by means of the brace-rod Z, the outer end of which takes into the joist or rafter.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is In flooring or ceiling jacks, the combination of a pair of pivoted levers forming tongs, a clamping jaw disconnected from and loose on said levers and provided with openings to receive separately the lower ends of the levers, and stops on the levers for supporting and engaging the clampingjaw, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM MOSES HOLIMAN.

Witnesses:

PENROSE N. J ONS, E. R. BYLER. 

